The older brother of the late President of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville is one of several high profile candidates who will stand for the post next month.
Joseph Kabui, Bougainville's first President, died suddenly last June.
His brother, Martin Miriori, is one of 14 vying to fill the vacancy.
Mr Miriori was for many years based in the Netherlands, where he was a spokesperson for the secession movement in the province.
Other candidates include former national MP, Sam Akoitai, James Tanis who came third in the first election in 2005, former provincial Speaker Nick Peniai, and Sam Kauona, who headed the military wing of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the civil war.
Reitama Taravaru from the Bougainville elections operations centre says the candidates now launch into three weeks of campaigning ahead of a poll starting on December 6th and running until December 20th.
